A neighbor who devoted the last twenty years of her life to preserving the community in which I live passed away on Sunday.  She was young.  I know her through her weekly emails and hearing her impassioned speeches at the Civic Center when we’d gather to speak for the animals and plants who live here and prioritize them over unscrupulous and dangerous development.  

The work of Congressman Philip Burton gave us The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a place loved, well-visited, and revered.  Sharon Rushton may not be as well-known as Philip Burton but she worked just as hard to preserve the areas that enrich and enliven our quality of life.